According to the Europcar Mobility Group, nearly 40% of businesses are hesitant to switch to Electric Vehicles (EVs) because of the costs involved.
The Europcar EV Barriers Barometer also cited a lack of charging infrastructure, a lack of understanding about ownership, a lack of model availability and employer/employee resistance among the obstacles business drivers faced.
Concerns around charging infrastructure have actually increased from 33.8% in Q1 to 35.7% in Q2 2024. Similarly, business drivers shared a growing apprehension about the lack of choice and vehicle availability EVs provided, with 19.3% citing this as an obstacle in Q2, compared to 17.8% in Q1.
Tom Middleditch, head of electric mobility at Europcar said: “It seems that the lack of charging infrastructure is still holding back a significant proportion of businesses, perhaps concerned about downtime and inefficiency during business hours. However, the UK’s public charge point network has grown by 49% in the past 12 months and is set to grow even quicker over the next year.”
Many businesses, unfamiliar with the realities of electric motoring – especially regarding costs, maintenance, management and charging - are reluctant to make the switch. To address these concerns and provide essential education, Europcar is facilitating EV driving experience with EV hire options. With a variety of makes and models and flexible rental durations, businesses can make informed decisions to move toward a greener future.
Middleditch said: “With a detailed handover and free resources to address queries and misconceptions around EV motoring, drivers can take to the road happy and confident. As such, we are empowering businesses to switch to a greener fleet today.”
